Recessed Leg Bench with Cloud Spandrels

During the Qing dynasty, a preference for ornamentation introduced open work and elaborate carvings to the classic, clean lines of Ming-era furniture. Preserving the best of both styles, this beautifully executed late 19th-century bench unites the traditional recessed-leg form with lacy, carved cloud-form spandrels. The long bench features straight legs linked by double stretchers and a broad floating-panel top. A sinuous beaded edge traces the outline of the apron, curling into the spiral of the cloud spandrels. Originally coated in an even lacquered finish, the bench has gained a beautifully worn texture over a century of use.